Newbie upgrading from Anim8or

[MikeAshe]

Hi,
This is my first post. I'm new to 3D animation. Started in due to my kids wanting to do a SpyKids/StarWars fanfilm, for which they roped Dad (me) into all computer stuff. Naturally they want special effects, etc.

I wanted to start out with something simple and cheap, since digital camera, editing software, lights, props, etc, etc started to add up the budget. I found Anim8or, which for a free program that still renders directly into AVI, is, I think, wonderful. Still, it is freezing my system, and is still incomplete. I'm in the middle of a couple of models/effects shots and suddenly realizing that I need something a little more powerful/complete. Ideally what I'd like is something that has an older version that is free, that if it works I could then decide to buy a newer version after the first fanfilm is made.

I have an older version of Poser (5) and am looking at Shade 7, which can be had cheap now. I don't have the time to do the learning curve on 3DS or Maya, nor the money to spend. I've also considered Animation Master. I don't need ILM quality obviously. Later I'll probably look for others to collaborate with over the web on other projects. but this first fanfilm we wanted to do "in-house" as a family, hence the cheap and easy to learn, while rendering out preferably to AVI or stills I guess.

Somewhere I saw that Amapi 6.1 was available here free. I just tried to install, but was told that a 16-bit subsystem DLL did not initialize properly. I'll browse the forums a bit and see if my problem is addressed already by anyone, then try again. Thanks to the forum for being here.

Update: I RTFM'd the 6.1 download post and found and fixed the install problem. Looks good so far!

[laughingnome]

welcome aboard Mike
Amapi6 was lightyears above the competition in its day and still remains a damn powerful modeler even by todays standards in my opinion

if you have any questions this is probably the best place to post them

stu

[MikeAshe]

Hi Stu,

yeah it looks like quite a deal for a free package. The interface sort of reminds me of TruSpace. I used to have a copy of the last free version. Amapi reminds me of that, but better.

I have not been through Amapi much yet. It does not appear to have ways to make bones and animate skeletons, is that correct? If so, I still need something do do walking sequences, etc in. I suppose I could still try to do that in Anim8or, or maybe Poser. I am trying to stay cheap and simple. Any suggestions? Can you import Amapi models into Poser for animation?

Thanks!

[laughingnome]

Originally Posted by MikeAshe

Hi Stu,

yeah it looks like quite a deal for a free package. The interface sort of reminds me of TruSpace. I used to have a copy of the last free version. Amapi reminds me of that, but better.

I have not been through Amapi much yet. It does not appear to have ways to make bones and animate skeletons, is that correct? If so, I still need something do do walking sequences, etc in. I suppose I could still try to do that in Anim8or, or maybe Poser. I am trying to stay cheap and simple. Any suggestions? Can you import Amapi models into Poser for animation?

Thanks!

yeah thats correct , no bones or animation but version 6 does have Object export unlike earlier versions and importing into poser isnt a problem most of the time
i originally statred modeling using truespace version 1 before switching to amapi version 4
amapi is way faster and more intuitive than truespace in my opinion.

stu